HEATHER SCHLEEPER
Written by Dave Danielson | Photos by Nested Tours
For Heather Schleeper, real estate became a calling shaped by perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to people. As Broker/Owner of Heather & Company Realty Group, Heather has spent the last 12 years building not only a successful business, but a culture rooted in integrity, education, and relationships.
Heather celebrated her 12-year real estate anniversary recently, a milestone that reflects both longevity and evolution. While her early success as an agent was impressive, it is her role as a leader—and the brokerage she built—that now defines her legacy.
An Unexpected Entry into Real Estate
Heather’s journey into real estate began during a season of transition. After her husband, Michael, and his family sold their business, he stepped away due to a non-compete agreement. At the time, Heather was a stay-at-home mom running a photography business, specializing in weddings.
A networking event sparked an idea that would change everything. After learning about rental property investing, Heather and Michael began researching the opportunity and purchased their first investment property within months. As their portfolio grew, Heather became increasingly frustrated with the lack of responsiveness and professionalism she encountered from agents.
“I finally thought, maybe I’ll just get my real estate license myself,” she recalls.
Heather completed her coursework in just one month and earned her license with the intention of supporting her own investments. But once she realized the cost of maintaining a license, she decided to help others along the way. That “side job” turned into $5 million in sales her first year, followed by $10 million in her second year—and steady growth ever since.
Systems, Service, and a Fast Start
When asked what fueled her early success, Heather points to her mindset. Highly organized and deeply system-oriented, she found contracts, compliance, and paperwork to be second nature. More importantly, she built her business on a simple philosophy: relationships over transactions.
From day one, Heather prioritized responsiveness and service. “If a lead came in, I responded within 10 minutes or less,” she says. That consistency, paired with genuine care, helped her stand out and build trust quickly.
A Brokerage Born from Loss and Purpose
One of the most defining chapters in Heather’s story came during a time of profound loss. After losing her son at 27 weeks, she found herself searching for focus and forward momentum. During that season, she decided to take her broker exam—passing it quickly—and soon realized opening her own brokerage was not only feasible, but necessary.
The brokerage opened just four months later, in October, with Heather’s daughter born the following August. “It was a wild season,” she reflects, “but I needed something to build—something that helped others.”
From Top Producer to Trusted Leader
While Heather still works with select buyers and sellers—primarily repeat and referral clients—her passion today lies in leadership. In October 2017, she opened Heather & Company Realty Group, just under four years after earning her license.
Today, the independent brokerage is tracking as one of the top-performing firms in its MLS. In 2025, the brokerage ranked #7 out of 901 brokerages, despite having just 75 agents—far fewer than many competing firms with hundreds of agents. The company closed over $255 million in sales that year alone.
Heather believes the success stems from intentional structure and values-driven leadership. “We’re very much quality over quantity,” she explains. Every agent is interviewed before joining, and culture fit matters as much as production. “Integrity means something to me.”
Education at the Core
Heather’s leadership extends well beyond numbers. Accredited as a real estate instructor, she now provides free continuing education courses to her agents, rotating CE offerings quarterly. She personally oversees every transaction—nearly 950 in the past year—handling compliance herself so agents know she truly has their backs.
Her commitment to speed-to-lead hasn’t changed either. “If my agents reach out, they hear back from me quickly,” she says. “That support matters.”
Life Beyond the Office
Heather’s strength is balanced by deep family roots. Michael works alongside her and brings levity and morale to the team—an ideal complement to Heather’s focused, business-driven style. Together, they continue investing in real estate
They are raising three children: Keyton, 17; Kaden, 15; and Saylor, 7. Soccer games and tournaments, family biking adventures, volunteering at Heart & Home, attending church, and spending time with close friends fill the spaces outside of work.
A Legacy of Trust
Heather hopes clients and agents alike would describe her as trustworthy, professional, and unwavering in her integrity. “I want people to know I have their back,” she says—especially in what is often the largest financial transaction of their lives.
For Heather Schleeper, success isn’t measured solely by rankings or volume. It’s found in the agents she empowers, the culture she protects, and the relationships she leads with purpose—proof that when integrity leads, success follows.
